Word list: W


wave, waver, waive, waiver

Sometimes confused.

Wave (noun or verb) refers to a movement of the hand in greeting or signal, or to an item moving to and fro. You can wave your hand. You can wave a flag. There are also waves in the sea, and sound waves and so on. The word wave can also mean a sudden occurrence of or increase in a phenomenon.

To waver means to be undecided or to quiver or flicker like a flame.

When you waive something, or agree to a waiver, this means that you give up your right or refrain from demanding compliance.

web

Not capitalised.

web page

Two words.

website

One word.

wellbeing

One word.

well-heeled

Not well-healed, unless you’re referring to recovery from an accident or illness.

west

See compass points.

whether, whether or not

“Or not” is usually redundant unless you mean “irrespective”. In the phrase “I haven’t decided whether to go out or not” the “or not” adds no meaning and you’d probably do better to write only “I haven’t decided whether to go out”. But you might write, “I have decided to go out, whether or not it’s raining.” In this case the “or not” is needed.

whisky, whiskey

Whiskey with an E is typically used for American and Irish products, while whisky without an E is usually used for Scottish, Canadian, and Japanese products. However, there are exceptions to this rule.

whistleblowing

One word.

white paper

Two words.

winter

Not capitalised.

Word [Microsoft]

Capital W.

workplace

One word.

worldwide

One word.

World Wide Web

Three words, inital cap every word.

worshipped, worshipping

Double P.